Large Denver group, including mayor, to visit Seattle for urban study

A contingent of 99 people from Denver city government and the downtown business and nonprofit worlds will head to Seattle Sunday for an urban study trip.

Mayor Michael Hancock, a half-dozen City Council members and several city officials are among those taking the two-night trip, organized by the Downtown Denver Partnership.

Most have paid their own way, though Hancock and five of the administration officials going received scholarships covering their costs because they're key members to the trip, partnership spokeswoman Brittany Morris Saunders said. Some costs also are offset by companies, including host sponsor AECOM and presenting sponsors CRL Associates and Parsons Brinkerhoff.

The partnership's Urban Exploration program each year selects a city with the aim that participants will adapt projects, policies and initiatives they observe to improve Denver.

Last year, they learned about Toronto's efforts to integrate arts and culture into the city, and another recent trip to Portland helped guide the recent construction of downtown's 15th Street bikeway, which separates the bike lane from traffic with posts.

"We aren't going (to Seattle) to look for one big project or program," said Tami Door, the partnership's president and CEO. "We're going there to understand how they do things and what they've done and how we could integrate it into a plan for our city. The beauty of these trips is that alternate new ideas unveil themselves."

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On the agenda: sessions about the success of Seattle's famed Pike Place Market, diverse housing options, the transformation of the city by its iconic attractions, and a comparison of Seattle and Denver, which this year were Super Bowl competitors.

Council members Albus Brooks, Robin Kniech, Christ Nevitt, Debbie Ortega, Susan Shepherd and Mary Beth Susman are joining the trip. The council still will meet Monday night with the seven remaining members, the minimum needed for a quorum.

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